Following stiff opposition from other ethnic nationalities in Akwa Ibom State including the Annangs, Obolos and Oros, the state House of Assembly has abrogated the controversial provisions in the Traditional Rulers’ Council (TRC) Law, conferring absolute powers on the Ibibio monarch for life.
LEADERSHIP Sunday learnt that the title of president-general, granting overwhelming authorities to the Ibibio monarch, Ntenyin Solomon Etuk, akin to the Northern, Western Oba, Obi of Onitsha, Oni of Ife, Oba of Benin, and others, was a hurried political creation with the backing of the immediate past governor, Udom Emmanuel, forcing other ethnic groups to kick, saying the clause is “alien to the Akwa Ibom traditional system.”
However, the House of Assembly, following the directive of Governor Umo Eno, through an executive bill sent to the lawmakers at the weekend, revoked the disputed provision, and gave accelerated hearing to “a bill for a law to further amend the Traditional Rulers Law Cap 155, Law of Akwa Ibom State 2022 (as amended).”
The speaker, Hon Udeme Otong, who presided over the plenary, directed the clerk to read the executive bill at the plenary before the entire Assembly.
The bill, which captured 11 amendments, was received by the House for legislative consideration after the member for Eket State Constituency, Hon. Nsidibe Akata, moved for its receipt, and was seconded by Hon. Udobia Friday Udo, the representative of Esit Eket/Ibeno State Constituency.
The bill was given an accelerated hearing as the House dissolved into the Committee of the Whole to consider the amended sections after its second reading.
After legislative scrutiny at the Committee of the Whole, 11 amendments were upheld including, that: “The president-general shall be the ceremonial head of the council and shall represent the council at the national and international levels.
“The president-general shall be appointed by the governor for four years which may be renewed for another period of four years at the governor’s discretion.
“The office of the president-general shall be rotational among the three major ethnic groups in the state.”
Members spoke unanimously in support of the amendments, including Speaker Otong, who commended the dispassionate and apolitical approach to the matter, and directed the clerk of the Assembly, Mrs Nsikak Abasi, to communicate the House’s decision to the governor for assent.
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